Todd McLellan, the Sharks' new man, might not be perfect in every way.

He is perfect in one way, though.

He is exactly what General Manager Doug Wilson had in mind when he started shopping for a new coach last month.

Of course, no product is 100 percent guaranteed. McLellan could turn out to be the wrong fit in San Jose for unexpected reasons. But it is highly unlikely that he is defective merchandise.

McLellan has spent the past three seasons as an assistant for the Detroit Red Wings, hockey's best team. He also won a championship as a minor league coach. He has been blatantly eager to become an NHL head coach and has methodically accumulated the proper résumé to do so.

However, there is one more important thing that probably sealed the deal between McLellan and Wilson.

To review: Early in Wilson's coaching search, my prediction was that he would hire a minor league coach with a fresh, aggressive personality. I based this on Wilson's public and private statements about the qualities he was seeking. My hunch pick was Kevin Dineen, coach of the Portland Pirates in Maine.

I soon regretted that call. This happened when I noticed a story about McLellan and the Colorado job opening (which eventually went to Tony Granato).

In that story, which appeared in the Denver Post and featured an interview with McLellan, he was asked about the style of hockey he preferred.

The instant I saw the quote, I knew that Dineen, at best, probably was going to be Wilson's second choice.

Here is why:

I had heard those same descriptive words out of Doug Wilson's mouth, oh, perhaps 8zillion times since he took over as the Sharks' general manager.

High-tempo. Fast. Puck possession. Wilson stressed it, over and over. And for the most part, that's what the Sharks played under Ron Wilson. But they didn't play it consistently well, with relentless efficiency. Ultimately, this is what led to Ron Wilson's firing, as much as any playoff result.

A quick history lesson is needed here. Even the most devoted followers of our beloved Los Tiburones sometimes forget that Doug Wilson did not hire Ron Wilson. That decision was made by previous general manager Dean Lombardi.

As such, Doug Wilson inherited Ron Wilson after Lombardi was dismissed in spring 2003. There was no coaching change, however. For the five years they spent together, the two Wilsons respected each other greatly. For the most part, they worked extremely well together. The Sharks' won-lost record is the best evidence.

However, over the past few seasons, there were undercurrents that Doug Wilson was not always pleased with the way Ron Wilson utilized the Sharks' personnel. Or the way Ron Wilson sometimes let the team's focus drift.

Or most especially, the lack of persistent high-tempo, puck-possession hockey.

You can safely assume that those general themes were discussed in every job interview Doug Wilson gave. And you can certainly assume, based on that earlier quote by McLellan and subsequent events, that he blew away Wilson when the two met face-to-face.

McLellan reportedly came to San Jose on Monday for his interview. He and Wilson visited late into the evening. They kept talking Tuesday morning. And Tuesday afternoon. McLellan canceled his interview with the Atlanta Thrashers later this week.

At that point, Wednesday's announcement of McLellan's hire was probably inevitable. There is reason to be optimistic. Ron Wilson was an excellent coach who, after trying every trick in his book to reach the Sharks and turn them into Stanley Cup finalists, had no tricks left. McLellan has a new book and will bring a new look.

But does the new coach's preferred high-tempo emphasis fit the Sharks' personnel? It's a legitimate question. If the team fails to re-sign defenseman Brian Campbell - or acquire someone with similar skills - then it will be difficult to pull the trigger on a puck-possession fast break out of the back end. But perhaps Wilson has some roster moves in mind that will help McLellan.

For now, this move has the added benefit of hurting the Sharks' toughest competition in the West. McLellan's specific coaching duties in Detroit involved organizing the Red Wings' power play and their forward offensive strategy.

Sound familiar? Anyone who watched the Sharks in the postseason knows how much trouble they had in both those areas, after being so successful in both areas during the regular season. McLellan might be able to change that pattern.

At least we know this much: He and Doug Wilson now agree on their favorite patterns. And their favorite strategies. And their favorite colors, movies, flavors and salad bar items, presumably.

Hey, if the two men didn't agree on the major issues, McLellan wouldn't be here. Wilson's shopping trip was completed successfully. Now let's see what happens when the new appliance is plugged in and flipped on.